Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 450°F. Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the broccoli. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the stem, then cut the broccoli into small florets. Place on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat; arrange in an even layer. Roast 14 to 16 minutes, or until browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven.

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Meanwhile, peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Finely chop the peppers. In a bowl, combine the ricotta, half the parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 7 to 9 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a bowl.

In the pan of reserved fond, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the capers, chopped garlic, and chopped peppers; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Add the tomato paste and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat. Add the cream and 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. 

To the pot of cooked pasta, add the sauce, butter, cooked sausage, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. On a serving plate, spread the seasoned ricotta into an even layer. Top with the roasted broccoli. Serve the finished pasta with the finished broccoli on the side. Garnish with the remaining parmesan. Enjoy!